Support becket for rig operations

ABSTRACT

A support member or becket for supporting an item in wellbore operations including a body with a support area, and a wear insert removably emplaced over the support area. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This present invention is directed to supports and beckets for use inwellbore operations; and in particular aspects, to hooks, links,elevators, and beckets used with traveling blocks or top drives.

2. Description of Related Art

The prior art discloses a wide variety of support beckets used inwellbore operations. In certain instances a support becket (see e.g. thesupport becket SB, FIG. 8A) is connected to a traveling block system(e.g. system TS, FIG. 8A). In certain instances, a top drive issuspended from a hook which in turn is suspended from a support called a“becket” attached to a traveling block in a derrick. Portions of becketsthat come in contact with other items are subject to wear. In the past,replacing or repairing a worn becket has resulted in rig down time andin expensive costs of repair or replacement.

Top drive beckets are disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,320,374; D523,210; and 7,370,707 (check re: “becket”) (a list which is exemplaryand not meant to be exhaustive), all of which patents are incorporatedfully herein for all purposes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a becket having awear insert. In certain aspects, the wear insert is releasably connectedto the support becket. In certain aspects, the wear insert is located ina support area, or “saddle” area of the becket.

In certain aspects, the wear insert has a shape corresponding to a shapeof a recess of a becket.

In certain aspects, a bolt or other fastener, releasably connects theinsert to a becket.

In certain aspects, the becket, or at least a wear area thereof, has awear coating.

In certain aspects, a seating shoe is used between a wear insert and abecket.

The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a hook with a wearinsert; a link with a wear insert or inserts; and an elevator with awear insert or inserts.

The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a becket forsupporting an item in wellbore operations, the becket including a becketbody with a saddle support area, and a wear insert over the saddlesupport area. The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, asupport member for supporting an item, the support member including: asupport body; a support surface on the body; a wear insert over thesupport surface; and the wear insert releasably secured to the supportbody. The support body may be a body of one of hook, link, becket,drilling hook, top drive becket, traveling block becket, and elevator.

The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a plurality of wearinserts for a support member, each wear insert of the plurality ofinserts including: a wear insert body; each wear insert body of a sizedifferent from a size of the other wear insert bodies; each wear insertbody of a size for accommodating structure of an item to be supported;and each wear insert body shaped and configured for correspondinglyabutting a support surface of a support member.

Accordingly, the present invention includes features and advantageswhich are believed to enable it to advance support member and beckettechnology. Characteristics and advantages of the present inventiondescribed above and additional features and benefits will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments and referring to theaccompanying drawings.

Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any particularindividual feature disclosed here, but include combinations of themdistinguished from the prior art in their structures, functions, and/orresults achieved. Features of the invention have been broadly describedso that the detailed descriptions that follow may be better understood,and in order that the contributions of this invention to the arts may bebetter appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of theinvention described below and which may be included in the subjectmatter of the claims to this invention. Those skilled in the art whohave the benefit of this invention, its teachings, and suggestions willappreciate that the conceptions of this disclosure may be used as acreative basis for designing other structures, methods and systems forcarrying out and practicing the present invention. The claims of thisinvention are to be read to include any legally equivalent devices ormethods which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What follows are some of, but not all, the objects of this invention. Inaddition to the specific objects stated below for at least certainpreferred embodiments of the invention, there are other objects andpurposes which will be readily apparent to one of skill in this art whohas the benefit of this invention's teachings and disclosures. It is,therefore, an object of at least certain preferred embodiments of thepresent invention to provide new, useful, unique, efficient, nonobvioustop drive systems with beckets having replaceable wear members anduniversal wear members releasably connectible to a becket.

The present invention recognizes and addresses the problems and needs inthis area and provides a solution to those problems and a satisfactorymeeting of those needs in its various possible embodiments andequivalents thereof. To one of skill in this art who has the benefits ofthis invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures, and suggestions,other purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the followingdescription of certain preferred embodiments, given for the purpose ofdisclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.The detail in these descriptions is not intended to thwart this patent'sobject to claim this invention no matter how others may later attempt todisguise it by variations in form, changes, or additions of furtherimprovements.

The Abstract that is part hereof is to enable the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office and the public generally, and scientists, engineers,researchers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar withpatent terms or legal terms of phraseology to determine quickly from acursory inspection or review the nature and general area of thedisclosure of this invention. The Abstract is neither intended to definethe invention, which is done by the claims, nor is it intended to belimiting of the scope of the invention or of the claims in any way.

It will be understood that the various embodiments of the presentinvention may include one, some, or all of the disclosed, described,and/or enumerated improvements and/or technical advantages and/orelements in claims to this invention.

Certain aspects, certain embodiments, and certain preferable features ofthe invention are set out herein. Any combination of aspects or featuresshown in any aspect or embodiment can be used except where such aspectsor features are mutually exclusive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of embodiments of the invention brieflysummarized above may be had by references to the embodiments which areshown in the drawings which form a part of this specification. Thesedrawings illustrate certain preferred embodiments and are not to be usedto improperly limit the scope of the invention which may have otherequally effective or legally equivalent embodiments.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a system according to the presentinvention with a becket according to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a side view of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a side view of the becket according to the present inventionof FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a cross-section view of the becket of FIGS. 1A and 1C.

FIG. 1E shows various side views of inserts according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 1F is a side view of an insert according to the present invention.

FIG. 1G is a top view of the insert of FIG. 1F.

FIG. 1H is an end view of the insert of FIG. 1F.

FIG. 1I is a side view of a becket according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A with an insert according to the present invention is a side viewof a becket according to the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a top cross-section view of the becket of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a side cross-section view of the becket of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a side view of a becket body of the becket of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B is a side cross-section view of the body of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a side view of a becket insert according to the presentinvention of the becket of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4B is a top view of the becket insert of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a side view of the becket insert of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a side view of a prior art traveling block and becket.

FIG. 8B is a front cross-section view of the block and becket of FIG.8A.

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the becket of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8D is an exploded view of the becket of FIG. 8C.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a becket according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 9B is an exploded view of the becket of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9C is a side view of becket inserts according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a becket according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 10B is an exploded view of the becket of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a becket according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 11B is an exploded view of the becket of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a becket according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 12B is an exploded view of the becket of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 13 A is a side view of a hook according to the present inventionsupporting items therebelow.

FIG. 13B is a side view of the hook of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a link according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a side view of an elevator according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 16 is a side view of an elevator according to the presentinvention.

Presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in theabove-identified figures and described in detail below. Various aspectsand features of embodiments of the invention are described below andsome are set out in the dependent claims. Any combination of aspectsand/or features described below or shown in the dependent claims can beused except where such aspects and/or features are mutually exclusive.It should be understood that the appended drawings and descriptionherein are of preferred embodiments and are not intended to limit theinvention or the appended claims. On the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within thespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Inshowing and describing the preferred embodiments, like or identicalreference numerals are used to identify common or similar elements. Thefigures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certainviews of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematicin the interest of clarity and conciseness.

As used herein and throughout all the various portions (and headings) ofthis patent, the terms “invention”, “present invention” and variationsthereof mean one or more embodiment, and are not intended to mean theclaimed invention of any particular appended claim(s) or all of theappended claims. Accordingly, the subject or topic of each suchreference is not automatically or necessarily part of, or required by,any particular claim(s) merely because of such reference. So long asthey are not mutually exclusive or contradictory any aspect or featureor combination of aspects or features of any embodiment disclosed hereinmay be used in any other embodiment disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a top drive system 10 according to the presentinvention with a becket 16 according to the present invention which hasa becket insert 16a according to the present invention. The top drivesystem 10 according to the present invention which has a swivel body 12suspended with links 14 from the becket 16. The becket 16 is connectedto a travelling block (not shown). A gear system 20 is mounted on aspacer plate 22 which is supported by the swivel body 12. A motor 30 iscoupled to the gear system 20. A brake system 40 connected to the motor30 is within a bonnet 44 through which extends a gooseneck 46 connectedto a kelly hose 7 (which is adjacent a service loop 48) through whichflows drilling fluid. An extension system 98 provides horizontaldisplacement of the top drive system 10. A system 100 for selectivelygripping tubulars is suspended from a load collar 70. Links 72 suspendan elevator 74 from the load collar 70. A counterbalance system 110(which can hold the weight of the entire system 10 during stabbing oftubulars) includes load compensators. A link tilt system 120 providesselective tilting of the links 72 and thus selective movement andtilting of the elevator 74 and movement of a tubular or stand of tubularsupported by the elevator 74 to and away from a wellbore centerline.Bail retainers 404 retain the links 72 on the load collar 70. Link tilthydraulic cylinders 128 are interconnected pivotably between the loadcollar 70 (connected to its ears 128 a) and arms 122. Each connector 124is pivotably connected to a lower end of an arm 122 and to a clamp 126which is clamped to a link 72. Guards 73 and 390 are on sides of anaccess platform 130. Optionally, the access platform 130 may have anindented portion 132 for facilitating the placement of tubulars thereonand for facilitating movement of tubulars on the exterior of the accessplatform 130. The top drive system 10 can be movably mounted on a beam82 (or “torque tube”). Horizontal displacement is provided by theextension system 98 which includes a torque bushing 98 a. The extensionsystem 98 with the top drive system attached thereto is movablevertically on the beam 82 with the top drive system attached thereto.Although one particular embodiment of a top drive system is shown, it isto be understood that a becket according to the present invention (e.g.,including, but not limited to a becket 16a or any becket according tothe present invention disclosed herein) may be used with any known topdrive system e.g. with that of U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,374 which is like thesystem 10 if FIGS. 1A and 1B.

In one aspect the becket insert 16 a is releasably connected to thebecket 16; e.g., but not limited to with pin(s), bolt(s), clamp(s),fastener(s), fastening material, adhesive(s), and/or adhesive material.

FIG. 1E shows a variety of becket inserts according to the presentinvention becket—inserts A, B, C, and D, each shown in a side view.

FIGS. 1F-1H show a becket insert 150 according to the present inventionwhich has a body 152 and two ends 154. Sides 156 of the becket insert150 are spaced apart by a bottom 158 and, in one aspect, are spacedapart so that they can be fit over a top interior part of a becket andheld there with a friction fit. Optionally, any suitable clamp,fastener, fastener material, screw, bolt and/or adhesive can be usedwith the becket insert 150 (and with any insert according to the presentinvention).

FIG. 1I shows a becket 160 according to the present invention with aninsert 162 according to the present invention. The insert 162 has a top164 that corresponds in shape to a top 166 of the becket 160. A strap orclamp 170 holds the becket insert 162 in place. The clamp or strap 170can go completely around the becket 160 or only partially around it. Itmay be made of any suitable material including, but not limited tohardfaced metal material and/or ballistic material, e.g. KEVLAR(Trademark) material.

Optionally, in addition to or instead of the strap 170, a plate 174 maybe pinned with pins 175, 176 to the becket 160 and the insert 162 tohold the insert 162 in place.

Optionally, in addition to or instead of a strap 170 and/or a plate 174,an amount 177 of releasable fastener material on the insert 162 mayco-act with a corresponding amount of releasable fastener material 178on the becket 160 to hold the insert 162 in place. Any or all of theplate 174, strap 170, and/or amounts of releasable fastener material177, 178 may be used with any insert according to the present invention,with or without bolt(s), screw(s), fastener(s) and/or adhesive(s).

FIGS. 2A-2C show a becket 200 according to the present invention whichhas a becket body 202 with two arms 204 with holes 206, holes 208 withbolts 209 connecting halves 202 a, 202 b of the body 202 and liftingrings 210. A bolt 212 extends through a hole 214 and through acorresponding hole 224 in a bar 226 of the becket insert 220 accordingto the present invention to releasably secure the becket inset 220 tothe body 202. The becket insert 220 is located in a top recess 216 ofthe body 202.

The becket insert 220 has a body 232 with optional lower taperedsurfaces 234. The body 232 is, in one aspect, crescent shaped as shown(as viewed in FIG. 4A). The body 202 of the becket 200 may have a recessportion 218 of the recess 216 shaped specifically to correspond to thetop shape (as viewed in FIG. 4A) of the becket insert 220. Other thancrescent-shaped as shown, the top shape of the body 232 and the shape ofthe portion 218 may be any desired shape.

It is within the scope of the present invention to provide an insert(like the becket inserts described above) for a top portion of adrilling hook. As shown in a system 500, FIG. 5, a becket 512 of atravelling block 502 supports a drilling hook 504 which has an insert506 connected at a top recess 508 of the drilling hook 504. The drillinghook 504 supports, a drive system 510 which includes support bails 512(one shown; two used) (optionally the bails 152 have an insert 514—likeany becket insert disclosed herein) which supports a power swivel 516.

As shown in FIG. 6, the drilling hook 504 can be removed and the bails512 of the drive system 500 are supported directly by the becket 512 ofthe travelling block 502.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top drive system 550 with support bails 552 on atravelling block becket 554 of a travelling block 556. There are twobails 552, one on each side of the block becket 554 (one bail shown). Aninsert 560 is connected to each bail 552 (any becket insert disclosedherein).

Any insert according to the present invention may be made of known wearresistant, hardfacing or carbide material; including, but not limited toASTM A514 material, HARDOX™ 400 material, or PUC-12N (Trademark)material.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a prior art traveling block system TS with a priorart support becket SB. The becket SB has a saddle area SA which cansignificantly wear and degrade in use. As shown in FIG. 8D, the becketSB is made of two halves H (e.g. of steel plate) bolted together withbolts B and nuts N. The saddle area SA of the becket SB is fixed withrespect to size and configuration and is, therefore, suitable for useonly with certain specific sizes and types of equipment.

FIG. 9A-12B illustrate various beckets according to the presentinvention. It is within the scope of this invention to provide any wearinsert or wear-insert-seating-shoe combination according to the presentinvention for any area or surface in any supporting member used inwellbore operations. The specific dimensions and shapes of a wear insetaccording to the present invention can be chosen for differing contactsurfaces and radii and for different load ratings, e.g., but not limitedto, specific API requirements and specifications.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a becket 400 according to the presentinvention which has a body 402 which includes two halves 403, 404 heldtogether by bolts 405 and nuts 406. Optional lifting lugs 408 areprovided on sides of the becket 400. Pins (not shown) through holes 407secure the becket to a traveling block.

Each half 403, 404 has a recess 403 r, 404 r, respectively for a lug 412of an insert 410. A bolt 411 passing through holes 403 h, 404 h, in thehalves 403, 404, respectively, and through a hole 410h of the insert 410is secured with a nut 413 to connect the insert 410 to the halves 403,404.

Optionally, a seating shoe 420 is used between a saddle area 409 of thebecket 400 and an underside of the insert 410. The lug 412 passesthrough a hole 422 of the shoe 420. The shoe 420 and the underside ofthe insert 410 are shaped to correspond to the exterior surface of thesaddle area 409 of the becket 400.

In one aspect the seating shoe 420 is made of softer material than thematerial of the insert 410 and of the becket 400 so that the shoe 420deforms to allow the insert 410 to seat well against the becket's saddlearea 409.

As shown, the insert 410 has a saddle area 414 which has a specificshape, size and configuration which will accommodate corresponding itemsand equipment of a certain size and shape. It is within the scope of thepresent invention to provide any becket according to the presentinvention with a plurality of inserts of different shapes sizes andconfigurations so that, by changing an insert, a single becket canaccommodate a range of equipment sizes and shapes. For example, a seriesof inserts I1, I2, and I3 as shown in FIG. 9C can be used with a becket(or any item) according to the present invention; e.g., foraccommodating different size supports, links, etc.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show a becket 430 according to the present inventionwhich has halves 433, 434 held together by bolts 435 and nuts 436.Optional lifting lugs 438 are provided on sides of the becket 430. Holes437 function as do the holes 407.

Each half 433, 434 has a recess 433 r, 434 r, respectively for a lug 442of an insert 440. Studs 441 on the half 433, projecting from a side ofthe recess 433 r, pass through corresponding holes 446 in the lug 442.At least one stud or one, two, three or more studs may be used. When thehalves 433, 434 are secured together with the bolts 435, the insert 440is secured in place at a saddle area 439 of the becket 430.

Optionally a seating shoe 448 is used between the insert 440 and thesaddle area 439 of the becket 430. A hole 449 in the shoe 448accommodates the lug 442.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show a becket 450 according to the present inventionwhich has halves 453, 454 held together by bolts 455 and nuts 456.Optional lifting lugs 458 are provided on sides of the becket 450. Holes457 function as do the holes 407.

Each half 453, 454 has a recess 453 r, 454 r, respectively for a lug 462of an insert 460. Bolts 467 passing through holes 452 in the halves 453,454 and holes 466 in the lug 462 secure the insert 460 in place at asaddle area 459 of the becket 450.

Optionally a seating shoe 468 is used between the insert 460 and thesaddle area 459 of the becket 450. Cutouts 461 in the shoe 468accommodates the lug 462.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show a becket 470 according to the present inventionwhich has halves 473, 474 held together by bolts 475 and nuts 476.Optional lifting lugs 478 are provided on sides of the becket 470. Holes477 function as do the holes 407.

Optionally a seating shoe 490 is used between the insert 480 and thesaddle area 479 of the becket 470.

Braces 482, held in place by bolts 484 through holes 486, secure aninsert 480 at a saddle area 479 of the becket 470. Either brace may bedeleted and at least one brace may be used or two or more.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show a hook 600 according to the present inventionsupporting links 602, an elevator 604, and a pipe 606. The hook 600 hasa body 608, a lip 610 and an insert 612 over a support area 614 (insert612 shown schematically; may be any insert according to the presentinvention disclosed herein connected to the hook 600 in any waydescribed herein).

FIG. 14 shows a support link 620 with a body 622 and two ends 624 and626 each with an opening 634, 636 respectively. The end 624 has twoinserts 621, 623 and the end 626 has two inserts 625, 627. Optionallyany one, two, or three of the inserts 621, 623, 625, 627 is deleted.

Each of the inserts 621, 623, 625, 627 (shown schematically) may be anyinsert according to the present invention disclosed herein connected tothe link 620 in any way described herein.

FIG. 15 shows an elevator 640 according to the present invention whichhas a body 642 and two support eyes 644 with selectively openablelatches 646. Each eye 644 has an insert 648 according to the presentinvention (shown schematically) which may be any insert according to thepresent invention connected to the body 642 in any way described herein.

FIG. 16 shows an elevator 650 according to the present invention whichhas a body 652 and two support eyes 654 with selectively openablelatches 656. Each eye 654 has an insert 658 according to the presentinvention (shown schematically) which may be any insert according to thepresent invention connected to the body 652 in any way described herein.

As shown, e.g., in FIGS. 10A, 11A, and 12A, a top surface of a wearinsert according to the present invention may have a different shapethan the shape of the becket body surface which the wear insert abuts.

The present invention, therefore, provides in at least some embodiments,a becket for supporting an item in wellbore operations, the becketincluding: a becket body with a saddle support area; and a wear insertover the saddle support area. Such a becket according to the presentinvention may have one or some (in any possible combination) of thefollowing: a seating shoe between the saddle support area and the wearinsert; wherein the seating shoe is made of material softer than thewear insert; the wear insert has a lower surface with an insert shapeand the seating shoe has an upper surface with a shoe shape and theinsert shape corresponds to the shoe shape; the wear insert having awear insert body, a lug projecting from the wear insert body, and thelug secured to the becket body; a seating shoe between the saddlesupport area and the wear insert, the seating shoe having a shoeopening, and the lug of the wear insert passing through the shoeopening; the becket body having two halves secured together, each halfof the two halves having a recess for receiving a portion of the lug ofthe wear insert; the recess of each half is on an interior surfacethereof; at least one stud projecting from a recess of at least one halfof the body, the lug of the wear insert having at least one stud hole,and the at least one stud projecting into a corresponding stud hole onthe lug; the recess of each half is on an exterior surface thereof; aseating shoe between the saddle support area and the wear insert, theseating shoe having spaced-apart side cutouts, the lug comprising twospaced-apart lug portions, a lug portion passing through eachspaced-apart side cutout of the seating shoe, and a lug portion in eachrecess; at least one brace securing the wear insert to the becket body;the becket is a top drive becket; and/or the becket body saddle supportarea has a first surface with a first shape, the wear insert has a lowersurface that abuts the first surface, the wear insert has a top surfacewith a second shape, and the second shape different from the firstshape.

The present invention, therefore, provides in at least some embodiments,a becket for supporting an item in wellbore operations, the beckethaving: a becket body with a saddle support area; a wear insert over thesaddle support area; a seating shoe between the saddle support area andthe wear insert, the seating shoe is made of material softer than thewear insert; the wear insert having a wear insert body, a lug projectingfrom the wear insert body, and the lug secured to the becket body.

The present invention, therefore, provides in at least some embodiments,a support member for supporting an item, the support member having asupport body, a support surface on the body, a wear insert over thesupport surface, and the wear insert releasably secured to the supportbody. Such a support member according to the present invention may haveone or some (in any possible combination) of the following: wherein thesupport body is a body of one of hook, link, becket, drilling hook, topdrive becket, traveling block becket, and elevator; a seating shoebetween the support surface and the wear insert; and/or the seating shoemade of material softer than the wear insert.

The present invention, therefore, provides in at least some embodiments,a plurality of wear inserts for a support member, each wear insert ofthe plurality of inserts having a wear insert body, each wear insertbody of a size different from a size of the other wear insert bodies,each wear insert body of a size for accommodating structure of an itemto be supported, and each wear insert body shaped and configured forcorrespondingly abutting a support surface of a support member.

In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and theembodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended claimsare well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends setforth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It isrealized that changes are possible within the scope of this inventionand it is further intended that each element or step recited in any ofthe following claims is to be understood as referring to the stepliterally and/or to all equivalent elements or steps. The followingclaims are intended to cover the invention as broadly as legallypossible in whatever form it may be utilized. The invention claimedherein is new and novel in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §102 and satisfiesthe conditions for patentability in §102. The invention claimed hereinis not obvious in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §103 and satisfies theconditions for patentability in §103. This specification and the claimsthat follow are in accordance with all of the requirements of 35 U.S.C.§112. The inventors may rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determineand assess the scope of their invention and of the claims that follow asthey may pertain to apparatus not materially departing from, but outsideof, the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the followingclaims. All patents and applications identified herein are incorporatedfully herein for all purposes. It is the express intention of theapplicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 for any limitationsof any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claimexpressly uses the words ‘means for’ together with an associatedfunction. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in itsnon-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included,but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to anelement by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibilitythat more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearlyrequires that there be one and only one of the elements.

1. A becket for supporting an item in wellbore operations, the becketcomprising a becket body with a saddle support area, and a wear insertover the saddle support area.
 2. The becket of claim 1 furthercomprising a seating shoe between the saddle support area and the wearinsert.
 3. The becket of claim 2 wherein the seating shoe is made ofmaterial softer than the wear insert.
 4. The becket of claim 2 whereinthe wear insert has a lower surface with an insert shape and the seatingshoe has an upper surface with a shoe shape and the insert shapecorresponds to the shoe shape.
 5. The becket of claim 1 furthercomprising the wear insert comprising a wear insert body, a lugprojecting from the wear insert body, and the lug secured to the becketbody.
 6. The becket of claim 5 further comprising a seating shoe betweenthe saddle support area and the wear insert, the seating shoe having ashoe opening, and the lug of the wear insert passing through the shoeopening.
 7. The becket of claim 6 further comprising the becket bodycomprising two halves secured together, each half of the two halveshaving a recess for receiving a portion of the lug of the wear insert.8. The becket of claim 7 wherein the recess of each half is on aninterior surface thereof.
 9. The becket of claim 8 further comprising atleast one stud projecting from a recess of at least one half of thebody, the lug of the wear insert having at least one stud hole, and theat least one stud projecting into a corresponding stud hole on the lug.10. The becket of claim 7 wherein the recess of each half is on anexterior surface thereof.
 11. The becket of claim 10 further comprisinga seating shoe between the saddle support area and the wear insert, theseating shoe having spaced-apart side cutouts, the lug comprising twospaced-apart lug portions, a lug portion passing through eachspaced-apart side cutout of the seating shoe, and a lug portion in eachrecess.
 12. The becket of claim 1 further comprising at least one bracesecuring the wear insert to the becket body.
 13. The becket of claim 1wherein the becket is a top drive becket.
 14. The becket of claim 1wherein the becket body saddle support area has a first surface with afirst shape, the wear insert has a lower surface that abuts the firstsurface, the wear insert has a top surface with a second shape, and thesecond shape different from the first shape.
 15. A becket for supportingan item in wellbore operations, the becket comprising a becket body witha saddle support area, a wear insert over the saddle support area, aseating shoe between the saddle support area and the wear insert, theseating shoe is made of material softer than the wear insert, the wearinsert comprising a wear insert body, a lug projecting from the wearinsert body, and the lug secured to the becket body.
 16. A supportmember for supporting an item, the support member comprising a supportbody, a support surface on the body, a wear insert over the supportsurface, and the wear insert releasably secured to the support body. 17.The support member of claim 16 wherein the support body comprises a bodyof one of hook, link, becket, drilling hook, top drive becket, travelingblock becket, and elevator.
 18. The support member of claim 16 furthercomprising a seating shoe between the support surface and the wearinsert.
 19. The support member of claim 18 further comprising theseating shoe made of material softer than the wear insert.
 20. Aplurality of wear inserts for a support member, each wear insert of theplurality of inserts comprising a wear insert body, each wear insertbody of a size different from a size of the other wear insert bodies,each wear insert body of a size for accommodating structure of an itemto be supported, and each wear insert body shaped and configured forcorrespondingly abutting a support surface of a support member.